Greater New Orleans Foundation Hosts 2024 Pitch It! The Innovation Challenge

December 5, 2024

Courtesy of Video/Photography by J.R. 

On Wednesday, December 4, the Greater New Orleans Foundation, with generous support from anonymous donors, held its 2024 Pitch It! Innovation Challenge at the André Cailloux Center for Performing Arts & Cultural Justice. Through Pitch It!, the Foundation supports innovation in the nonprofit sector and funds organizations’ bold programmatic, technological, or strategic innovative ideas that drive impact or advance organizational sustainability. The Pitch It! first place winner receives $50,000, the second place winner $30,000, and the third place winner $25,000.

Three nonprofit finalists presented their “big ideas” to a panel of judges. This year’s nonprofit winners and their projects are:

  • First Place Winner – Lowlander Center – Project: Sky Power for the People 
  • Second Place Winner – Home Is Here NOLA  Project: Digital Legal Defense Hub 
  • Third Place Winner – VIA LINK – Project: AI Agent Makes 211 Better 

The purpose of the challenge is to support the breakthrough ideas of the nonprofits in our region by encouraging them to rethink, reframe, and reimagine how they create a more just and thriving community for us all. Since 2012, the Greater New Orleans Foundation has awarded over $220,000 to 18 nonprofits through Pitch It! The Innovation Challenge.

Thank you to our esteemed judges, John Gonzalez, Kim Boyle, and Victoria Adams Phipps, for their time and expertise. We were honored that legendary television journalist, Mr. Norman Robinson, served as the emcee for this year’s competition.

To learn more about Pitch It!, click here. >> 

To support this program through your Greater New Orleans Foundation Fund or a corporate or personal sponsorship, please contact Zach Danner at zach@gnof.org.